‘Unbeatable’ Juventus hailed as Euro dream takes shape

Milan (AFP) – “Unbeatable” Juventus can finally hand goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon an elusive Champions League title after making five-time winners Barcelona “cry” in the quarter-finals.

Those were the headlines splashed across the front pages in Italy after rock-solid Juventus followed their impressive 3-0 first-leg win over the Spanish giants with a defensive masterclass that held Barca to a frustrating scoreless draw at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.

As Juve celebrated a 3-0 aggregate win at a stunned but appreciative Camp Nou, Barcelona — who beat Juventus on their way to triumphing in 2015 — crashed out of the competition after seeing Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar fail to find the net over 180 underwhelming minutes.

“Fly Juve Fly” was the frontpage headline on Italy’s biggest-selling sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, which included a vignette showing teary-eyed Neymar being comforted by former club defender Dani Alves.

Corriere dello Sport used the same dramatic picture of Alves and Neymar to fully illustrate the Brazilian starlet’s disappointment.

“You made them cry,” screamed Corriere’s headline, while for Turin-based Tuttosport Juventus are simply “unbeatable”.

Even Barcelona, outdone by Paulo Dybala’s impressive brace and Giorgio Chiellini’s 55th minute header in Turin last week, had to agree.

“Compliments to @Juventusfc for reaching the semi-final,” the Catalan club wrote on its official Twitter page.

To which Juventus replied: “Thanks @FCBarcelona, it’s an honour to beat such a great opponent.”

Juve go into Friday’s semi-final draw along with Real Madrid, Monaco and Atletico Madrid — all of whom have faced Massimiliano Allegri’s men in recent European campaigns.

– Impenetrable –

For Barca defender Gerard Pique, though, the Italians showed enough over the two legs to merit another tilt at the trophy they last won in 1996 with a 4-2 victory on penalties over Ajax.

“Over the two legs, they were better than us so they deserve to go through to the semi-finals. I think they can win the Champions League this season,” said Pique.

Gazzetta dello Sport suggested Juve’s virtually “impenetrable defence” should also give 39-year-old club legend Buffon the chance to add a trophy from Europe’s premier club competition to his long list of titles and accolades.

“It’s your year. With a defence like this you can lift the trophy,” said an inside-page headline.

Currently on their way to a record sixth consecutive Serie A title and a third successive league and Cup double, Juve can also target an unprecedented treble — last achieved by an Italian club by Inter Milan under Jose Mourinho in 2010.